Extraction of chrysalides from silk cocoons



Patented Aug. 21, 1951 EXTRACTION OF CHRYSALIDES FROM SILK COCOONS Arthur James Baron, Mellor, near *Stockport,

and Harold Neville Sykes, Almondbury, near Huddersfield, England, assignors to Chryssex, Limited, Lindley, near Huddersfield, England "No Drawing. Application October 9,1945, Serial No. 621,390. In Great Britain November 6,

'3 Claims.

.When silk fibre is being reeled from a cocoon a point is reached when'the silklwillno longer unwindowing to' the agglutination" of the fibres composing the central part or casing which surrounds and encloses the chrysalis. These cocoon bottoms or bassinee contain a considerable amount of fibre which is, of course, usable, but in addition to the fibre they contain also the chrysalides and other impurities.

The usual practice has been, hitherto, to subject the cocoon bottoms to a de-gumming process to remove and/or soften the agglutinant by which the fibres are caused to adhere and then to subject the degummed masses of fibre and chrysalis to an opening process including pulling the fibres apart and working up the cocoon bottoms and thereby softening them, followed by combing and drafting processes. In the opening process the contained chrysalides become broken up and mixed with the fibres, and their removal in the combing process results in the production of a considerable quantity of noil amounting, in some cases, to 25% or more of the bulk.

According to the present invention it is proposed to subject the cocoon bottoms, before the opening process, to a preliminary cutting operation which exposes the contained chrysalides and enables them, when broken up by crushing or rolling, to be removed by willowing or equivalent action.

Whilst being primarily concerned, as above indicated, with the extraction of chrysalides from cocoon bottoms or bassinee, we would observe that the invention is capable of being applied, with advantages, to pierced cocoons, double cocoons, many wild silk-s and, in fact, to any cocoon material which is not capable of being reeled.

In the preferred method of carrying out the invention the cocoon bottoms, or the cocoons as the case may be, are first subjected to a crushing or rolling operation to break up the contained chrysalides, after which they are subjected to a cutting operation to expose the interiors of the casings and then to a shaking, willowing or equivalent operation to remove the broken-up portions of the chrysalides. De-gumming, opening, and the subsequent processes are then carried out in the usual way.

The cutting operation may be performed by any suitable means as, for instance, by a uillotine past which the cocoon bottoms or the cocoons are appropriately fed.

Among the advantages obtained by use of the invention are the facts that, due to the cutting operation facilitating the opening up of the cocoon bottoms, or of the cocoons, a smaller pro portion of noil to top is produced in the combing operation and owing to the peculiar build or formation of cocoons the length of staple is not materially afiected by the cutting; the value of the noil produced is increased since it contains less impurity; the process prepares the silk in such a way that instead of combing it it can be carded and yarn of a novel character and appearance obtained, such a procedure utilising the whole of the material, as no noils are removed; the chrysalis residues extracted are free from fibres and have value as a by-product; and flnally a very considerable saving is effected in the de-gumming process as the material is in a more open condition and more susceptible to penetration by the degumming liquor. A shorter period of de-gumming is therefore sufficient, thus saving time and reducing risk of damage to the fibre. Moreover only one half the weight, approximately, of material will require handling and treatment as the chrysalides have already been disposed of.

Whilst the procedure we have above described is that preferred, we do not wish to exclude the possibility of cutting the cocoon bottoms or 00- coons before crushing or rolling them, or even of cutting them after de-gumming, the essential feature being the cutting open of the cocoon bottoms or cocoons and the removal of the contained chrysalides by a shaking, willowing or equivalent action before the cocoon bottoms or the cocoons are subjected to any opening operation.

If the resultant fibre should be required to be of relative short staple, a shredding operation is preferably performed, and the dust caused by such operation removed, before de-gumming.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of extracting silk fibers from a cocoon bottom, which consists in reducing the chrysalis into broken chrysalides within the cocoon bottom by a crushing action applied to at least one side of the cocoon bottom while in raw undegummed condition; cutting said cocoon bottom open to expose the broken-up chrysalides; then removing the broken-up chrysalides from the cocoon bottom thus cut open by at least a shaking action while said cocoon bottom remains in the undegummed condition and thereafter degumming said cocoon bottom when completely free from the fragments of the chrysalides.

2. The method of extracting silk fibers from a cocoon bottom, which consists in reducing the chrysalis into broken chrysalides within the cocoon bottom by a crushing action applied to at least one side of the cocoon bottom while in raw undegummed condition; cutting said cocoon bottom open to expose the broken-up chrysalides; then removing the broken-up ohrysalides from the cocoon bottom thus cut open by at least a shaking action while said cocoon bottom remains in the undegummed condition, thereafter shredding the fibers of said cocoon bottom into short lengths and removing the dust from the latter caused by the shredding; and subsequently degumming said cocoon bottom when completely free from the fragments of the chrysalides.

3'. The method of extracting silk fibers from a cocoon bottom, which consists in reducing the chrysalis into broken-up chrysalides within the cocoon bottom by a crushing action applied thereto from at least one side thereof through rolling while the cocoon bottom remains in raw undegummed condition; cutting said cocoon bottom open to expose the broken-up chrysalides;

then removing the broken-up chrysalides from said cocoon bottom thus cut open by at least a shaking action preparatory to degumming said cocoon bottom and removing the fibers therefrom; and thereafter degumming said cocoon bottom when completely free from the fragments of the chrysalides.

ARTHUR JAMES -BARON. HAROLD NEVILLE SYKES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,565,196 Piana Dec. 8, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 451,363 Germany 0012.25, 1927 515,026 France Mar. 23, 1921 

1. THE METHOD OF EXTRACTING SILK FIBERS FROM A COCOON BOTTOM, WHICH CONSISTS IN REDUCING THE CHRYSALIS INTO BROKEN CHRYSALIDES WITHIN THE COCOON BOTTOM BY A CRUSHING ACTION APPLIED TO AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE COCOON BOTTOM WHILE IN RAW UNDERGUMMED CONDITION; CUTTING SAID COCOON BOTTOM OPEN TO EXPOSE THE BROKEN-UP CHRYSALIEDS; THEN REMOVING THE BROKEN-UP CHRYSALIDES FROM THE COCOON BOOTM THUS CUT OPEN BY AT LEAST A SHAKING ACTION WHILE SAID COCOON BOTTOM REMAINS IN THE UNDEGUMMED CONDITION AND THEREAFTER DEGUMMING SAID COCOON BOTTOM WHEN COMPLETELY FREE FROM THE FRAGMENTS OF THE CHRYSALIDES. 